infrared designator?

[Palmetto Bug]

I've got a low end night scope (Sightmark) and want to upgrade to a better illuminator. I don't really have much opportunity for night hunting since I don't have pigs and the coyote population is pretty small but I just want to play around with it. I don't need anything too fancy or expensive. Which one should I be looking at?

[mello_collins]

I will say a GOOD illuminator makes a BIG difference. My hunting buddy gave me his old atn x-sight hd first generation. He had a couple of cheap illuminators. Darn thing was almost useless at 100yds. Even hog hunting at 70 yards I didn’t like the picture. I could see but it was dim and hard to see any details. I bought a Sionyx illuminator 950nm at shooter’s choice in west cola. It was under 200 if I remember correctly. Came with two lithium rechargeable batteries.

I can now see details at 150-200yards. And the batteries last way longer than in the cheap chinese 850nm ones. It was like up grading to newer better scope.

Edit to add: it also came with a really good solid lever detachable mount. Not like the flimsy one that came with scope or cheap illuminators.

[SilverFox]

Sniper Hog Light. 66lrx is what I use. They have a new model that strutnbps on here just ordered. Hyperion is the name of it but I haven't seen one in person. I'm gonna see what his looks like and then probably order one for the new scope I just ordered.

[Palmetto Bug]

Thanks for the replies. After a little more research, I think I need a 850 nm light. The Sionyx is 950nm. The Hog Sniper light seems to be a visible white, red or green light, not infrared.

ATN Supernova looks like it might be a decent choice. It runs around $189 and comes with a picatinny mount.

Sent from my SM-S926U using Tapatalk

[StrutnBPS]

The Sniper Hog lights come in IR. Both 850 and 940. Regular and “turbo”. As silverfox said above, I ordered one of their new lights just waiting on it to get here.

I currently run their 55 with the 850 turbo.

Sniper hog lights are pretty much the best you can buy here in the US.

[jfields47]

Definitely the Sniper Hog Lights. They make a world of difference with my ATN scope.

[Palmetto Bug]

Thanks again for the replies.

I just ordered the Hyperion 66 850nm. I'll post my product review when I get a chance to try it out.

[Heybo_Hater]

Wicked lights with the 850 and 950 ir is my go to. Can be had from Amazon and been in service for five years.

[StrutnBPS]

Thanks again for the replies.

I just ordered the Hyperion 66 850nm. I'll post my product review when I get a chance to try it out.

I got mine in the mail today. I mounted it, but didn’t get out to try it tonight. If you want to mount it on your scope you will need the predator pro mount or something like it.

[mello_collins]

The old atn I have is supposed to be 850nm. It works better with the 950. If someone could chime in on the difference in performance I would like to hear it. All I know is the darn thing works. I do wish it had a dimmer function. Deer seem to react less to me with the 950 I am using.

[StrutnBPS]

850 has a longer range so it will seem brighter. Some animals such as coyotes can see the 850 glow. 99% of them pay it no attention, but there’s always that one that will see the moving light and spook.

940 is totally invisible to humans and believed to be invisible to most animals.

[Palmetto Bug]

Sniper Hog Lights website has some pages that describe the differences and show the range of their lights with digital and Gen3 scopes. Basically, as mentioned, you get more range with 850 but the red glow of the bulb is more visible to animals.

https://sniperhoglights.com/light-distances/

Their website is worth visiting just for the information they provide.

I did also order the predator pro mount and some batteries. Now I just need to find some critters to hunt at night.